Machine for cutting vines



R. A. MURRAY MACHINE FOR CUTTING VINES Jan. 23, 1951 3 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1948 MW I 3nventor ROBERT A. MURRAY (Ittornegs Jan. 23, 1951 R. A. MURRAY MACHINE FOR CUTTING VINES' Filed Jan. 23, 1948 5 Sheets$heet 2 Bnventor ROBERT A. MURRAY mm/49% MM;

Gttornegs Jan. 23, 1951 A, M RRA 2,539,199

' MACHINE FOR CUTTING VINES Filed Jai'h 25, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ihwentor ROBERT A. MURRAY 'mm, wwmfl am Gttcruegs Patented Jan. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 23, 1948, Serial No. 4,027

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a machine for cutting vines and more particularly to a novel knife carrier and mechanism for driving the carrier. Specifically, the invention is directed to cutting mechanism designed to sever sweet potato vines which lie flat on the ground.

In the development and cultivation of sweet potatoes the plants are arranged in rows and are spaced from each other at regularly spaced intervals. As the vines grow they are combed in such a way that all of them lie horizontally on the ground with the vines and branches extending in the direction of the row and in substantially parallel relation. Before the sweet potatoes are dug from the ground it is necessary that the covering of vines be cut and removed.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a cutting mechanism which is particularly suitable for severing vines lying horizontally while the mechanism is being drawn thereover by a tractor or the like.

It is another object of the invention to provide driving means for the cutter with suitable mechanism for connecting it to a power take-off of the conventional tractor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a support for the cutter with appropriate height adjustment means thereon whereby the depth of cut may be gauged.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the knife carrier and mounting means therefor;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, it will be seen that the main supporting frame consists of an angle iron draft bar In to which are welded vertical plate II and horizontal plate I2. The draft bar is provided with suitable means for attaching an end thereof to the tool bar of a tractor to permit vertical swinging movement of the draft bar. A second horizontal plate I3 is secured to plate l2 by bolts l4 passing through both horizontal plates, and nuts [4' cooperating with the bolts. Plate I3 is provided with elongated slots 15 to permit adjustment of this plate with respect to plate I 2. Welded to the ends of plates l2, l3 are bearing housings l6, 11 adapted to accommodate sprocket shafts l8, [9, to which are keyed sprockets 2|,

knife carrier. during the cutting operation and supports the 22, respectively. Shaft E8 is a driven shaft having a universal joint 23 thereon for connection to a drive shaft (not shown) leading from the tractor take-off. Shaft I9 is an idle shaft. Knife-carrying chain 2t passes around the sprockets and carries one or more knives 25 fastened to angle links 26, the latter forming part of the chain 24. It is to be noted that the cutting edge 25' of the knives is in a Vertical plane and is curved to form a hook. Adjustment of the distance between the sprocket shafts can be made to take up slack in the carrier chain by moving plate l3 with respect to plate [2.

Adjustably secured to plate II are a pair of arms 21' having elongated slots 28 therein. Connection between the plate and arms is made by means of bolts 29 having nuts 30 thereon which may be loosened to permit vertical adjustment of the arms. A pin 3| on each arm cooperates with an elongated opening 32 in each of ears 33, the latter being welded to or formed on a runner having substantial width indicated at 34. runner has another pair of ears 35 at its other end pivotally connected by means of pins 36 to depending ears 3! on draft bar Ill. It will thus be seen that the runner is capable of vertical adjustment with respect to the shafts of the The runner engages the ground knife carrier. Hence it is obvious that the depth of the cut made by theknife may be varied by vertical adjustment of the runner.

In use, the cutting apparatus is drawn by a tractor or the like in the direction of the vines and the runner holds the parallel Vines against the ground in a horizontal position. While the vines are so held, the knives are drawn transversely across them, whereupon the vines are severed near the points where they emerge from the ground. They are later gathered to permit ready digging of the sweet potatoes which form the roots of the vines.

While a preferred form of the mechanism has been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that modifications thereof are contemplated within the definition of the invention as set forth in the claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Apparatus for cutting potato vines and the like, including a frame adapted for connection to a mobile vehicle, a longitudinally extending;

shoe having substantial width operatively connected to said frame, the rear edge of said shoe 109mg Substantially horizontally disposed and ex- The 2,589,199 4 3 4 tending transversely thereof, a knife blade mov- REFERENCES CITED able in a plane adjacent to and parallel with said edge of said shoe, said blade being in intersecting relation to the horizontal plane of said The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

shoe, and means for moving said knife in said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS plane, said shoe being adapted to be drawn over Nu b Name Date the vines to hold the vines against the ground 079 71 Simmons 25, 1913 in substantially perpendicular relation to said 1,107,603 Gardner Aug. 18, 1914 e r edge, d blade ng and cutting t e 1,254,999 Felker et a1. Jan. 29, 1918 vines while the vines are 80 held down y a 10 1,509,786 Simon Sept. 23, 1924 shoe. 2,139,802 Catchpole Dec. 13, 1938 ROBERT A. MU 2,141,806 Zielesch Dec. 27, 1938 2,337,307 Beck D80. 21, 1943 

